Article ejector and stop means



May 27, 3952 E. F. BRILL ETAL 2,598,156

ARTICLE EJECTOR AND STOP MEANS Filed Nov. 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS:

fawa d FB/HIZZ and Orv/a d ZZZ Schroeder ala May 27, 1952 E. F. BRILL ETAL 2,593,156

' ARTICLE EJECTOR AND STOP MEANS Filed Nov. 26, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 2 uqmvrogsk Edward FB/ull ma. 3 Urwal [M Schroeder 0 d P. y MN m; 6 Q m 6 5 s 3 Q ..E.Z 0 1 t 4 w p 06 w 9 g I a 2 m I M mm h n m h d 3 o0 W Y W 1L 4 W a a s w y N d f. m 0 5 9 M w 2 .3 T A. m s MW D k m w m J q B m r a 5 M; a w 6 a a m. I I E m 3 4 M C .H n w H m 1 F m 4 0m v ,H w 8 l :mlll I-.. ll! W 4 ,W l .1, 2 m 4 KW W m h MN 5 W H M W l 9 w .I H m H .J I i H H llll x 6 7 W I :1 I a 2 N K d .77.

Patented May 27, H352 .ARTICLE'EJEGTOR AND STOP MEANS Edward FpBrill and OrvalWwSchroeder, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application November 26,1948, Serial No. 62,142

1 Claim.

This invention relates, ingeneral, to display cases; more particularly, refrigerated display cases, and has especial relation to improved ejector and stop means for the articles of merchandise which are kept in a cool and refrigerated condition within the case and, at the same time,'ready for free access and removal by the customer.

While we have shown and shall describe the invention in connection with the type of refrigerated display case disclosed and claimed in-our 'copending application SerialNo. 62,144, filed November 26, 1948, which issued as Patent No. 2,574,242, November 6, 1951, it is to be understood that the article ejector and stop means of the present application may be used with other forms of cases and elsewhere as suitable'or desired.

One of the main objects-of thepresent invention is to provide an improvedform of article stop which will allow for articles of different sizes.

Another object of the'inventionis-to provide an article stop which will not only stopthe articles at the desired position, but will also-cooperate with the articles and move laterally to customer receiving position any-article which is follower which will'not'bedisplaced from'the top or outer open end of the article container.

Another-object of the invention is to provide an article "ejector and stop having various features of novelty and advantages and characterized' by its simplicity in construction, its economy in manufacture and installation, and its effectiveness in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention'will appear from thefollowing'detailed description, taken in connection withthe accom- -panying drawings which illustrate the construction and operation of one illustrative form of. de-

-viceembodying the present invention.

Inthe drawings Figure l is a perspective view of oneillustrative form of refrigerated display case with-which the article ejectorand stop means .of the. present invention may be employed;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section from .frontto rear, taken on the line-2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view of article .jectorand stop means according to the. present 2 invention, partly in elevation and partly in section and takenon the'line 33 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a verticalsec'tional view taken :on

the line 4-4 of Figure'3;

Figure 5 'is a detail'section taken on the line 55 ofFigureB; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentarydetail viewpartly in section and partly in elevation and'showing the position of the article follower after removal from the case of the last article associated with such follower.

The case shown in Figures l'and 2 hasvertical front and back'walls l and 2, a bottom wall 3, and end walls '4. The walls are heat insulated, for exampla by forming them of innerandouter metallic shells'i, with suitable insulating material 6 filling the space therebetween.

Disposed obliquely at the top of :the front wall 1 is a multiple walled glass panel section :1 comprising spaced transparent panes, and there is an opening-at 8 through which :the contents-of the case are accessible "for removal from the case. A fluorescent'la'mp is provided at. 9, it:be ing understood that this llampmay be disposed in other positions.

Within the case and extending lengthwise thereof are aplu'rality of cans .of containers 1.0, H, and i2 for'holding articles Tdf merchandise, for example vertically, stacked packages of frozen food or'the like. 'Thelowerzendszof the package "containers it, H, and I2 arezpositioned upwardly above the "bottom wall 3 to form abottom-space therebetween. An upwardly inclined partition l4 extends rearwardly from'aplate -I5to-a position spaced forwardly from the back wall-Land then upwardly behind the rear package container [0 to a position substantially as-shown, thus forming ,a bottom air channel It which opens at its rear end into a channel -l'l extending vertically along the back-of the case.

A second partition t8 extends forwardly from the'back wall 2 above the adjacent upperend-of the partition M, then downwardly between'the adjacent vertical portion of partition-14 andthe back of the rearpackage container In. From the lower end of its vertical portion-the partition l8 extends forwardly between the-partition l4 and the lower ends of the package containers in, H and 12 to a position spaced rearwardly from the plate l5. Second and third vertical-air spaces or channels I9 and 20 are thus formed between the air space or channel I! and the back of the rearpackage, container land the ,space between the bottom of partition l4 and the lower ends of the package containers is divided into air channels or spaces 2! and 22. The plate l5. and a wall 23 may be spacedfrom the frontwallof the front package container [2 to form avertical air space or channelflalong the front of the the cabinet, and the upper ends of the front walls of the containers l and H are turned forwardly and project over the upper ends of the rear walls of containers H and i2 respectively. The upper end of the front wall of container I2 is turned forwardly and projects over the upper end of the wall 23. The upper end of the rear wall of container it is shown turned rearwardly and spaced from the adjacent wall of the case for circulation of cold or refrigerated air, as will presently be described. The upper ends of the back walls of containers I l and I2 and the upper end of the wall 23 have forwardly directed air outlets or ports 25 elongated lengthwise of the case, as shown in Figure 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the case has a lengthwise extending compart ment 26 forwardly of the front package container l2 for articles of merchandise, such as frozen food or the like. Withi the case and beneath the compartment 26 there is a refrigerating coil chamber 27, and the refrigerating coil or heat transfer device is disposed within the coil chamber 21. The coil is shown of the tube and fin type comprising the coiled tube or tubes 28 and fins 29. The tube or tubes 28 provide the primary cooling surface, and fins 29 provide secondary cooling surfaces as well known in the art. Other forms of coil or heat transfer devices may be employed within the scope of the present invention.

The coil or heat transfer device has frost accumulating surfaces and, therefore, defroster means of the type disclosed and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 62,143, filed November 26, 1948, now Patent No. 2,571,192, October 16, 1951, or any other suitable or preferred defroster means may be provided. Such means per se forms no part of the present invention, and therefore is not shown or described.

A suitable fan or blower 39 has its outlet 3| opening into the forward end of the air channel l5, and its inlet 32 opens into the space surrounding the coil chamber 27. A baffle 33 extends lengthwise of the case and has its lower end extending downwardly into the coil chamber and between the coil turns for causing the air to pass downwardly into and then upwardly from the coil chamber 2! where it is cooled or refrigerated before passing to the blower 3G for circulation through the case. A vertical space 34 between the front wall of the compartment 26 and the front wall of the case directs the air, which is directed over the package containers and compartment 26, to the air refrigerating and circulating means for refrigeration and circulation, a will be described.

The article containers 10, H and I2 are elongated lengthwise of the case, and each has a bottom wall, side walls and end walls, and each is open at the top. Three of such article containers are shown in the drawings, but there may be only one or any other desired number of article containers.

Generally L-shaped article separators 36 have angularly disposed base parts 3? and upwardly extending legs 38, and are adapted for positioning within the container, with the base parts adjacent to the bottom wall of the container. Leaf springs 39 have angularly disposed base parts 50, fastened at M to the base parts 3'! of separators 36, and legs extending upwardly between the sides of the articles or packages 42, and the adjacent side wall of the container. The upper or outer ends of the leaf springs 39 are turned inwardly into cooperation with the tops of the upper articles to form stops for stopping the articles at customer receiving position.

If desired, arms without any springiness may be employed instead of the leaf springs 39 and means in the form of coiled springs, or springs of other suitable form, may be provided between these arms and an adjacent wall of the case for urging the stop means extending from the outer ends of the arms into position for cooperation with the upper or outer sides of the upper or outer articles 42.

Article followers 53 operate against the bottom sides of the lower articles. These followers 43 have depending integral skirts M which, by cooperation with the side wall of the container and the adjacent separators 36, prevent displacement of the followers from the open upper ends of the containers. A coiled spring 45 is interposed between the follower 43 and the base part 37 and is fastened at 46 to the follower 13 and, at 41, to the base part 37. The coiled spring forces the articles against the stop 48 on the leaf spring 39.

The spring 39 is flexible to allow for articles or packages 42 of difierent widths, and is bowed inwardly at 50 adjacent to its outer end to cooperate approximately at 5| with the articles whereby to move or force the articles against the opposite side wall of the container at 52 as the articles are forced against the inturned stop 48 at the upper end of spring 39. Thus the arm or spring 39 not only functions as a stop, but moves laterally to customer receiving position any article 42 which is out of such position as it is forced against the stop 48.

The springs 45 may, if desired, be of tapered spiral form so that the turns of the springs may nest into a single plane, thus allowin more package space between the springs and the stops 48 when the springs are in completely compressed positions.

The lengthwise elongated article containers H], II, and [2 are spaced transversely, or from front to back, of the case to form the vertical air channels 6!! which extend upwardly between the containers and open at their lower ends directly from the underlying air space or channel 2|.

In operation of the case, with the blower or fan and the refrigerating coil 28 in operation, air is drawn downwardly through the channel or space 34 and into the front of the coil chamber 21 from where it passes downwardly around the refrigeration coil and beneath the baffle 33, and then upwardly from the rear of the coil chamber 2'! and to the inlet of the blower through the space surrounding the coil chamber. The air is cooled or refrigerated in the coil chamber 21, and the refrigerated air is then circulated out through the outlet of the blower 351 and into the space or channel I 6. The air passes rearwardly through the channel it and, from the rear end thereof, passes upwardly through the channel I! and then downwardly through the channel is. At the lower end of the vertical channel 19 the air enters the space or channel 22 and flows forwardly beyond the forward end of the bottom leg of the partition l8, from where it flows into the forward end of the space or channel 2|.

The refrigerated air as it enters the channel 2! passes in the direction of the arrows and upwardly through the vertical channels or spaces to between package containers H], H and I2, and upwardly through the rear space or channel 20 and front space or channel 24. The refrigerated air which reaches the upper ends of the channels 60 passes and is directed forwardly over the top packages 42 in the containers II and I2 forwardly of the respective channels 60. The refrigerated air which reaches the upper end of the channel flows around the upper end of the back wall of the rear package container 10 and then forwardly through the opening El and over the top packages 42 in the container It. The refrigerated air which reaches the upper end of the channel 24 flows and is directed forwardly, in general, as shown by the arrows.

The refrigerated air which flows forwardly from the opening 5| combines forwardly of the rear container II] with the refrigerated air that flows forwardly from the opening 25 in the back wall of the container H. At the front of the container 1 l the refrigerated air that flows from the opening 25 in the back wall of container I2 combines with the refrigerated air stream flowing over containers l0 and II. At the front of the container I2 the refrigerated air that flows from the opening 25 in the wall 23 combines with the refrigerated air stream flowing over the tops of the containers, and the combined refrigerated air stream, with such make-up or spillage that occurs, flows over the merchandise in compartment 26 and is then directed downwardly through the front channel 34 to the refrigerating and circulating means for refrigeration and recirculation as set forth. With the cabinet construction and air fiow system shown and described. there is passed across the tops of the packages in the respective package containers l0, II, and [2 only the amount of cold air necessary for such packages. The cold air streams across the tops of the respective containers H), II, and 12 are independent and need flow only relatively short distances forwardly before combining with the forward fiow of cold air for the package container forwardly thereof.

The additional cold air flowing over the tops of the packages in the rear container builds up an additional cold air barrier against relatively warm air from the room. Approximately speaking, the air above that flowing forwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, is stratified and relatively motionless and more or less cold, but not as cold as the air below it.

With the cold air passing upwardly and downwardly at the back of the case as shown in Figure 2, the full amount of refrigerated air circulated by the blower fiows along the inside of the back of the case, thereby more effectively supplying heat losses through the back of the case, with the result that there is less temperature rise of the air. Losses are thus reduced and colder temperatures are maintained within the case.

When a customer desires to remove a selected package or article from any one of the containers II), II, and I2, he reaches in through the opening 8, grasps the desired article 42 and withdraws it from the case. In withdrawing the article 42 the top articles must be withdrawn first, and, in doing so, the forward sides of these articles may be tilted upwardly slightly to free the same from the adjacent side of the article container. Upon withdrawal of the top article, the spring 45 moves the next lower article upwardly to position against the stop 48 and with its forward side positioned against the adjacent side wall of the article con tamer at 52 (Figure 4) as previously described.

In the particular case selected for illustration, the opposite ends of the package containers [0, I I, and I2 terminate short of the opposite ends of the case to form deep end compartments. Each of these end compartments is shown divided by a substantially vertically disposed panel 54 into two deep compartments 55 and 56 at each of the opposite ends of the case. This may vary within the scope of the present invention. The panels 54 are of hollow construction, forming internal air channels opening at the bottom from the underlying air space or channel 2|. Near their upper ends the panels 54 have transversely extending cold air outlets 51 for passing cold air over the merchandise in the compartments 55 and 56.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawings and the accompanying specification are not to be construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claim for that purpose.

We claim:

In a refrigerated display case, in combination, means defining a generally upright compartment for supporting frozen articles in generally vertically stacked relation, said compartment having a front wall, a back wall, opposite side walls and a bottom wall and being completely open at the top thereof, a leaf spring anchored in said compartment and extending upwardly between the back wall and the back ends of the articles, the upper portion of said leaf spring being bowed forwardly with the bowed portion extending along the back ends of a plurality of the stacked articles and yieldingly cooperating with the back ends of a plurality of the stacked articles whereby during withdrawal of the articles yieldingly to move the succeeding upper articles in a forward direction to customer receiving position, said leaf spring having at its upper end an integral, forwardly turned tongue forming a stop spaced above the open top of the compartment for cooperation with the top of the upper article at its rear end to stop the upper article at customer receiving position, and a spring acting against the bottom of the lower article to force the stack of articles upwardly and the top of the upper article into position projecting upwardly from the open top of the compartment where its top will be completely visible to the customer and into engagement with said stop, the bowed portion of said leaf spring acting yieldingly against the back ends of the upper articles as they are forced upwardly yieldingly to move the upper article forwardly to customer receiving position and permitting introduction of articles into the compartment through the open top thereof with accompanying flexing of said leaf spring.

EDWARD F. BRILL.

ORVAL W. SCHROEDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 821,113 Mount May 22, 1906 1,576,010 Swartz Mar. 9, 1926 2,397,403 Bishop Mar. 26, 1946 2,499,088 Brill et al Feb. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,893 Australia Mar. 26, 1946 377,337 France of 1907 

